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Gut Reaction: Phillies 5, Mets 2 (4/10/2016)

As sharp as the 2016 Mets looked in their ’86 throwback uniforms, it’s hard to imagine how they can look at themselves in the mirror after dropping two of three at home to the rebuilding Phillies.

Matt Harvey was okay, giving up 3 earned runs in 6 innings. He wasn’t overpowering, but kept his team in the game, getting timely outs, including a big double play in the sixth. Surrendering a 2-run homer to Odubel Herrera on a slider over the fat part of the plate was his big mistake. Once again, the Mets lineup offered Harvey no run support and failed to put a run on the board until he exited the game for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth. Yoenis Cespedes 2-run homer seemed to get the Mets back in the game, but a few hard hit balls failed to fall in and the bullpen surrendered two insurance runs (one by Addison Reed and one by Logan Verrett).

All-in-all it was an ugly game, but there were a few highlights. Reclamation project Jim Henderson continued his comeback, striking out the side in the seventh and David Wright got two hits, including a scorched double. Oh, and the uniforms were nice.

Tomorrow we begin a three-game home series with the Marlins. Steven Matz makes his season debut. #LGM

They are playing like a distracted team. The off days, the kisses blown their way, and their expectations are getting in th way of their consistency. Hopefully, by the end of the week they can start hitting their stride.

It was a disappointing weekend. In a worst case scenario, a 3-2 record was expected to start the season. I guess one could look at it as underachieving by only one game.The Mets had a similar record in 2015 and we remember how last season ended.
I just hope the 2-3 record is not a symton of “Harperitis” , a disease that sets in when you underestimate your opponents. It is followed by the belief that winning can be easily achieved by “turning it on”. Finally the ring finger swells up as big as your feeling of entitlement and you can never fit a ring on it.
A good fish diet should help the Mets thwart Harperitis.

Im not so sure about that. Aside for a solid month of play, and a crazy series in Chicago, The Mets had a bad offense. Things have not changed, but regressed more to normal, which sadly is a highly under-performing offense that fails to move and score runners. Its an offense that pops up and grounds out and strikes out in bales. It is worrying.

With no speed or high average/low strikeout guys, this is going to be an inconsistent offense. At times they’ll hit 3 homers in a game and at times they’ll struggle to advance runners. The pitching has to carry us.

The offense should be good, better than league average. Granderson 1-20, Duda, d’Arnaud, Cespedes unproductive. It won’t be perfect, but it will get better.

They were not ready for the regular season. The sleepwalked through spring training, adopted the approach of the 2015 Nats, the idea that it was somehow inevitable. Terry did not get them ready, in part because it is very hard to come back from a long postseason and gear up in March in Florida.

A lot of factors in play, including some lousy weather.

Hopefully this is the wake up call they needed, but I’m not so sure. The club needs a lot more from
Travis, but I don’t think the 8-spot is conducive for it.

I guess I am saying that the problems strike me as more a matter of focus and attitude rather than talent. They need to get their heads in the game or else they are going to look up in June and find themselves 8 games back on the Nationals.

Here’s what scares me a little. Bad habits at the plate, leading to bad ABs. Not only do we have the worst offense in the MLB, we are near rock bottom in ABs as well. Pop up, ground out, K, K, K. Very passive on first pitches…seeing a lot of get me over flat fastballs that are bring watched. As a result, we are behind in the count a lot, then chasing the low and outside garbage. Its predictable like the tides right now. And its the same kind of offense we saw last year (until Aug), and in the years before.

I dont think the wake up call has come. Its too early to be worried (though I dont buy into that) is what we hear. Its too cold to play baseball (wah wah wah, tell that to Trevor Story). Things dont matter yet. All of this is hog wash IMO. Losing a series to the Phillies and a game against the Nats matters all season long. And before you know it, here comes Jose Fernandez…against our on-life-support offense, we could be looking at the seasons first no-no — and Stanton, and Gordon, and Yellich, and Prado, and Bour…if we get swept by the Marlins, perhaps that will be enough to get interested in more than last season. Already, the Phillies have won more games in NY than all of last season. Not even a Pat Lafrieda filet sandwich and an ice cold beer can make that taste good.

I completely get that James. But both teams play in the same weather. And the Phillies played better. The Phillies. Exact same conditions. Im just saying I see a lot of bad habits that weve seen for some time and chasing behind in the count is one of them. I mean heres the approach: get me over FB, 0-1; up and in FB, 1-1; 60′ curve and a swing, 1-2; slider off the plate, swing and miss, K. or swing and make weak contact for ground out. Its already old.